LAL USA - Academic Recruitment Policy

All prospective teachers are given a Job Description outlining the essential and preferred requirements, qualifications, hours and the tasks expected of them.

Teachers who do not have a Cambridge CELTA, Trinity TESOL, New York or Florida State Teaching Certificate with TESOL endorsement will only be considered if their qualifications and experience are valid and relevant to the rigours of teaching at a summer school.

All teachers recruited will be either native speakers of English or of native speaker standard*. Priority will be given to those non-native speakers in possession of Cambridge CPE or IELTS score of 8.0. LAL USA Summer School courses are for 13-18 year old students and teachers with experience and/or further Young Learner qualifications will be given priority.

Returning teachers who proved to be successful in the opinion of LAL USA Summer Schools management in previous years are actively recruited.

We aim to recruit no fewer than 10 per cent inexperienced teachers, such as those who have recently completed a TEFL course. Inexperienced teachers will be placed with an experienced teacher to support them throughout their term of employment with LAL USA Summer Schools.

Teachers who have New York or Florida State Teaching Certificates should have some experience of teaching EFL/ESOL or additional EFL/ESOL qualification.

Teachers who have knowledge of a second language and prior summer school experience are given priority.

Teachers are required to successfully pass a thorough background check. Where a teacher who is not a US citizen or has been abroad and is not able to submit to a thorough background check, they are requested to produce a translated and notarised local police record or similar. All teachers are also required to sign a Child Protection Disclaimer self-declaration prior to the students’ arrival.

References are taken and checked, including at least one by phone, prior to the teacher’s arrival, along with the submission of copies of their ID and qualifications.

Where possible, teachers will be interviewed face-to-face in the first instance. Where this is not possible, a thorough telephone interview is carried out with a final face-to-face interview on induction. Identity, qualification documentation and ability to carry out the job are all thoroughly checked. Those not able to meet these requirements will not be employed.

* Native speaker standard will be judged on interview by LAL USA Summer Schools, along with any qualifications or certificates provided. They should be able to speak English fluently, to a level of at least CAE, without hindrance and with an accent that does not intrude on the understanding of the spoken word.